OUR VISION – All medical practice based on scientific evidence
OUR MISSION – To support the conduct of multinational clinical trials in Europe

Who We Are

We are a not-for-profit organisation that supports multinational clinical trials

The European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (ECRIN) is a not-for-profit intergovernmental organisation that supports the conduct of multinational clinical trials in Europe. As of 2013, ECRIN has the legal status of a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC).

Based in Paris, we work with European Correspondents across Europe, national networks of clinical trial units (CTUs), as well as numerous European and international stakeholders involved in clinical research.

However, various trial obstacles – from infrastructure interoperability to regulatory and ethical requirements and management and funding issues – deter many investigators from attempting multinational trials. This is especially the case for independent, or academic trials, which are more frequently conducted in a single country than industry-sponsored trials. This limited scope means reduced potential impact on global public health.

ECRIN provides a means to overcome the above challenges by offering researchers support to prepare and implement multinational trials. Support areas include the preparation of applications for funding, protocol evaluation, trial management, quality assurance and more.

We provide investigators with the tools they need to successfully implement trials

One way ECRIN provides support is by offering investigators the tools they need to address regulatory and ethical issues, to measure outcomes and to assess risk. These tools are critical for project success, especially when operating in a multi-country context where local legislation and requirements can vary greatly.

We support a large portfolio of trials and contribute to related projects

ECRIN currently provides consultancy and management services to more than 30 trials, with an average of seven countries per trial. In addition, we contribute to cooperative projects aiming, for example, to establish shared trial services, develop optimal research infrastructures, and foster international cooperation in non-commercial trials. ECRIN-supported trials benefit from the outcomes of these projects, as they are able to use the tools and findings that they produce.

We work with diverse partners across borders

ECRIN works with diverse stakeholders in Member and Observer Countries as well as in other countries involved in ECRIN-supported trials and cooperative projects. Partners include clinical trial units or clinical research centres, academic institutions, investigators and sponsors, policymakers, and patients and communities.